Sources & Standards

How claims are supported, how uncertainty is labeled, and what kinds of sources are preferred.

Methodology Page Sources & Standards

Ocean Liner Curator uses an evidence-first approach. This page explains how claims are supported, how uncertainty is labeled, and what kinds of sources are preferred—followed by a curated bibliography of institutional holdings and scholarly works used across the site.

For a broader overview beyond artifacts, see Ocean Liner Research: Sources, Methods, and Evidence.

Standards (How Evidence Is Weighed)

Not all sources are equal. Ocean Liner Curator prioritizes primary documentation and professional custodianship (archives, museums, official registers). Secondary works are used when they transparently cite primary material or show consistent technical reliability. Market descriptions and collector lore are treated as context—not proof.

Evidence tiers used on this site

Primary Plans, shipyard records, official registers, contemporary documents, period photographs, company papers, inquiry reports.
Secondary Scholarly books, museum publications, technical histories, peer-reviewed or professionally edited work that cites sources.
Tertiary Collector references, auction catalogs, databases, enthusiast compilations—useful, but cross-checked and never treated as sole proof.

Claim Scaling (How Strong Conclusions Are Allowed to Be)

Conclusions are stated in proportion to the supporting record. When documentation is thin, the site prefers bounded language (e.g., “consistent with,” “probable,” “cannot be confirmed”) and makes “unknown” a valid, responsible endpoint.

How uncertainty is labeled

Documented Supported by primary/official sources.
Well-supported Multiple strong secondary sources agree, citing primary material.
Probable Evidence points one way, but a confirming document is missing.
Possible Plausible, but competing explanations exist.
Unknown Evidence is insufficient to choose responsibly.

Citation Standards (What Gets Cited)

Factual assertions (dates, dimensions, ownership, design features, route chronology) should be traceable to primary or reputable secondary sources. Interpretive commentary is separated from documentary claims. When a source is popular but weakly sourced, it may still be referenced—but only with cross-checking and restraint.

General encyclopedic resources (including collaboratively edited platforms) are not treated as primary or secondary authorities. Where such resources are consulted for orientation, underlying references are traced and evaluated directly.

Use of AI-assisted tools

This project makes limited use of AI-assisted tools to support research organization, drafting, and cross-referencing. These tools function as assistants, not authorities. All content is reviewed by a human editor, and factual claims are evaluated against primary or reputable secondary sources. AI-assisted outputs do not replace archival research or curatorial judgment, and uncertainty is stated explicitly where evidence is incomplete.

The links on this page are intentionally institution- and scholarship-oriented. If you're looking for hobby and general-interest resources, see External References.

Museums & Archives institutional

Custodians of primary material (plans, photographs, company papers, artifacts) and professional interpretation.

Shipbuilders & Corporate Records primary

When available, shipyard and line records provide foundational evidence for specifications and design intent.

Registers & Official Documentation reference

Used for verification and cross-checking (ownership, tonnage, dimensions, chronology, and official inquiries).

Scholarly & Curatorial Works selected

The following authors are relied upon for documented research, technical accuracy, and transparent engagement with primary sources. Inclusion reflects sustained reference value rather than narrative popularity.

Artifact & Material Culture objects

Used for provenance context and object-based interpretation. Market descriptions alone are not treated as historical proof.